The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
EIGHT SHOTS FIRED.
Attempt to Kill Editor O'Brien
in Hamilton, Canada.
he and His Friends Fired Upon in
Their Cab.

Editor OBrien was more enthusiastically
received at Hamilton, Ontario, than in any
other place hc has visited since he began his
tour. No demonstration was made against
him during his passage from the depot to the
hotel, or from the hotel to the Palace Roller
Rink, where he spoke Monday even
ing. The meeting itself was a most enthusi-
astic one, and there was no disturbance, ex-
cept that made by few persons outside, who
were quickly dispersed by the police When
Mr.. O'Brien left the rink, had he gone out
of the front door, where the police had
cleared and were guarding the street for him
there would have been no attempt upon his
life to record. But some foolish friend ad.
vised him to 60 from the rink by the private
side entrance on McNab street. Mr.. O'Brien
consented, thinking merely to escape the
crushing in the crowd which awaited him if
he went out at the front entrance A closed
just as the meeting closed Mr.. O'Brien
went quietly from the rink and entered
the carriage. He was accompanied by
Mr.. Kilbride and Messrs. Mcmahon
and Roach of the National League
O'Brien and Kilbride sat on the back seat of
the coach, and Mcmahon and Roach in front.
The coach was driven by John Nelson. Presi-
dent T. P. O'Brien, Of the National League,
sat on the box seat with him.
AS Nelson whipped up the horses and faced
for the hotel, a crowd suddenly appeared,
which proved unfriendly, for no sooner
had Mr.. OBrien and his friends taken
their places than they set up the usual
kissing and groaning which proved
to be signal to group OF five men who
lurked around the market building, in
Market Square. The men who hissed and
groaned followed the carriage, and as it
wheeled into Market Square there
pranced and flash of light suddenly over
spread group of buildings where the men
lurked. The reins dropped out of John Nell
sons hands, and with the exclamation: "Oh,
my God, Pm shot!" he fell forward on the
seat.
Crash, crash, crash, quick as lightning,
and through bright flashes Of fame sped the
bullets from two revolvers until eight distinct
shots had been fired. Mr.. O'Brien stretched
forward" to look out, and as he did so ball
whisked by his face and passed through the
opposite window without harming anybody.
4. P. O'Brien, Nelson's companion, who
hadJbeen amazed and dazed, now grasped the
reins and lashed the horses through the square
into James street and down to the hotel.
Here there was another hostile crowd, who
again hooted as the party within tried to
open the door. but could not Mr.. Mcmahon
jumped over the door, and drawing revol-
yer, held the crowd at bay, while Mr.. O'Brien
and his friends were making their exit from
the carriage also in the same uncomfortable
way. As the party stepped into the corridor
of the hotel volley of rotten eggs was hurled
at them, bu'slo one was hit. Chief Of Police
McKinnon and his men then rushed up, but
all was over.
Nelson was taken to the City Hospital. DR..
James White extracted the bullet. He said
the wound is dangerous. It is in the left
wrist.
The day previous Sunday Mr. O,Brien had
spent quietly at Niagara Falls. He MAS suf-
fering considerably from injuries received in
the attacks upon him at Toronto and King.
ston, but expressed a determination to keep
his engagement to speak at Hamilton, and
did so with the result above described.